An Inside View of My Life

Tag: Creativity

Hello, Everyone! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I said I’d post this Wednesday—It’s currently Wednesday as I’m typing, but who knows..it may be Thursday before I post it…Oops. I’m really ready to get back into the habit of posting weekly, but it may be bi-weekly until January. Keep your fingers crossed! Let’s get started!

I love that this bracelet is so simple. SImple yet elegant. The pearls are all the same size, and I feel that they accent the smaller leather cord. Since the colors in this piece are neutrals, it could go with absolutely any outfit. Another definite plus is the magnetic clasp. Anyone else have issues latching bracelet? I do, so magnetic is a perfect way to go.

This is a gorgeous ring. The emerald is probably the most gorgeous in this state. You can see the darker veins scattered throughout the stone, which give it character. The band is hammered and creates an authentic handmade look and feel. The artist offers various stones, but I fell for this one. It’s something different that you wouldn’t see every day, and that’s what I love about it!

The hodgepodge of this necklace is amazing. All of the differences combine to form a gorgeous piece! There are also many textures at play, too. There’s the leather cord that goes around the neck, the turquoise chips, the chainwork, etc. I’m in love! The artist chose to use turquoise, crystal, brass, and copper finishes, and I’ll have to say that it was an amazing combination. I could see this being a multi-use piece—casual or formal–another plus. Lots of other gorgeous stuff in her shop as well, so definitely check it out!

As I was browsing, these immediately caught my eye, so I knew I had to feature them! I really like the vintage look about them, even though they aren’t vintage. The artist has carefully treated, painted, and varnished them to get this look. The detail is also amazing. The artist also offers two lengths, so these are good for short or long hair. Definitely a must have!

My apologies for only including 4 items. I wanted to get a weekly feature up. I got a little excited! I’ve seen a lot of things that I like, but these are the top 4 from my browsing…Always a surprise here, right? Now that you’ve seen a few of my favorites, go find yours at your favorite handmade site and show some artists some love!

Hello, again, everyone! It’s been a while! My apologies for missing several editions of Weekly Wednesday. Life has been SUPER busy, especially with work. I don’t forget about these weekly features; in fact, I think about them whenever I miss them! I’m going to try to do better about my posting schedule, so it may be a different day when I get around to posting each week. Now, I don’t want to keep you waiting because I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seats with anticipation. Without further ado….

My first thought upon seeing this ring was, “ooh, that’s different, and I like it.” This definitely isn’t your ordinary ring. Most rings are shaped in a circle as we would normally imagine a circle, but this one takes that ‘normal’ concept and puts a spin, or “twist,” on it. This particular ring is made out of sterling silver, but there is an option to get real gold if you want. I really appreciate that the artist decided to go with something different, but also kept it delicate enough that it’s not one of those “in your face” pieces.

I never really considered making jewelry from felt before seeing this…not sure why the thought never occurred to me, but this artist has done an awesome job with all of the items in her shop. She has necklaces and brooches in a variety of colors–all are equally gorgeous! I really like that this is different and makes a statement.

What’s really cool about this piece is that the colors in this bracelet match the shop’s name! Pretty neat, huh? Maybe I’m just a nerd (there’s no maybe to it…I’m a nerd). This is a wrap bracelet that can also double as a necklace! You all know I love dual purpose pieces. You can get a triple wrap bracelet or a single strand necklace. I love the delicate nature of it, but I’m not sure what makes it delicate (does that make sense?). Maybe it’s the teardrop topaz or the topaz seed beads. The color combination goes really well together and is quite pleasing to the eye. This shop is bohemian and vegan, as well as (wait for it…it’s the best part), a monthly donator to animal rescue! This past month, 100% of the proceeds went to helping a kitty get the surgery he needed!

Colors!!! I love the combination! Neutrals and pops of brightness every so often. It’s a wrap bracelet, so it’ll look like a stacked bracelet. Lots of patience is involved in pieces like these, trust me–it’s tedious. The artist used a wonderful combination of beads–czech fire-polished, brass nuggets, and porcelain beads. This combination brings about an interesting variation in the texture of this piece. By “interesting” I mean it makes me more curious about it and appreciative of the differences in textures and how mixing them can produce the most amazing things.

I absolutely love, love, love this necklace. My eye was immediately drawn to it as I was browsing. The color combination is perfect–teal and coral. Even though it’s just a small bit of coral, it’s perfectly balanced with the teal. The gold-colored charm and wire just add to the perfection of the teal and coral. I also love that it’s a simple piece. It’s simple, but the focal point adds that little “somethin’ somethin'” to this necklace. It’d be a great touch to almost any outfit–patterned (as seen in the picture) or solid. I could also see it going with something a little more fancy than just everyday casual.

Now that you’ve seen my list (after a long wait), go visit some artists and show them some love because they want to share their talent and love for their craft with you.

Hello again, everyone! I hope you all have had a good past couple of weeks! My apologies for missing last week’s Weekly Wednesday edition….another busy week and another busy weekend. Lots of stuff I’ve been into in addition to work–i.e., winterizing the house, organizing, going to a wedding and the pre-wedding festivities. So, since I’ll still setting up house and getting everything decorated, I’m kind of in the mode of looking at home stuff and probably will be for a while :p But hey, everyone needs home decor ideas, right? That’s what I thought! Let’s get started.

I saw these and thought they were pretty darn neat. We all probably need drink coasters, so why not get some stylish ones? When you purchase these you can choose to make a donation to honey bee conservation, which is definitely a good thing considering the honey bee population is dwindling, and they pollinate the majority of our food! I vote for the donation. Aside from these coasters begin neat as all get out, they’re also sustainable because of the fact they’re made from bamboo. Bamboo grows up to 2 feet per day!! There are so many awesome things about these–I don’t know why you wouldn’t want some! You can even get a Bamboo Honeycomb Clock–the possibilities are endless!

I don’t know how into Kantha quilts most people are, but I really like the style of them. These are made using Sari material and hand-stitched by women in India. I love that each stitch is done by hand–each person who stitched these quilts is putting a part of themselves into each one. I have one vintage kantha quilt in my den, and I love it. There are some imperfections in it, but I think that they add to the charm. I’m looking into getting another one because someone is always using it when I want it—sometimes it’s the dog hahaha. Let the trolling for kantha quilts begin!!! This shop has vintage and new kantha quilts, so it’s about what fits your style…maybe both.

I not a fan of cookie cutter designs. I want something different, something unique. This lighting set really speaks to me. It’s composed of steel and wood. The wood has been painstakingly distressed and stained by hand over several weeks. No two are alike. Each pendant light comes on 6 feet of cord allowing you to adjust the lengths of each bulb–another way to stay away from the cookie cutter look. Another plus is that the electrical work is configured for the U.S. and other countries. If you want vintage bulbs (I’d have to say yes) or cages for the bulbs, the shop also sells those and lots of other cool stuff!

I’m in love with these concrete planters!!! They’re absolutely gorgeous, and the added color gives it that something extra. Love, love, love it! Colors can be customized if you’re after a certain one. This is another unique piece as the bubbles, texture, and smoothness vary. Check out the shop for more items!

If you have a hard time keeping plants alive like me, then something like this is definitely right up your alley. I’d probably arrange some fake flowers in them…maybe even just the wheat. They’re just the thing one needs to decorate a space that was previously a blank canvas. I’m really loving the wood, copper, and green bottle combo. There’s something so natural about it…something so calming. You have the option to customize the color of the wood, but I really like what’s shown here. If you’re curious (and I know you are), this shop has a lot of awesome stuff!

Alrighty, now that I’ve shown you some of my favorite picks, I hope I’ve given you that itch to go look for some awesome items! I’m going to go browse some more stuff and just lose myself on Etsy for a while and so should you! Hop to it and show your favorite artisans some love!

Hello, everyone! I know, I know…it’s Thursday and I’m suppose to post on Wednesday. Here lately my days off have been more on Thursday and Wednesday, but I hope to get myself back on schedule. Yes, I realize I say this every time, but I AM trying!! Since the first day of Fall was this week, I decided that fall themed jewelry would be a good route to go and explore. I’ll have to say…there is a LOT of fall themed jewelry!! Lots and Lots. Shall we get started? Let’s go!

I’m really liking the combination of neutrals used in these earrings…brown and gold. And what could be more fall-ish than leaves and pine cones?? There is also a little bit of culture included with these that I wasn’t aware of, so I’m learning as I browse! The pine cone is a symbol of Enlightenment as well as the Third Eye. I always love it when cultural background/history is included in the descriptions! The leaves are made of raw brass, and the pine cones are made of red bronze, so you’ve got a combination of metals, which have their own unique properties, in addition to the colors. The maker also allows you to pick what kind of hooks that come with these–raw brass (as seen in the above photo) or gold-plated clasps. I really like the raw brass clasps, because I feel it’s a more natural state and because it matches the leaves.

First thing–I love the simplicity of this ring! This item is entirely handcrafted in that the sterling sliver sheet was shaped and polished and the tree was carved. Patience was a key player in this piece! Sometimes, I noticed (in my browsing) that a lot of fall-themed jewelry was really just in-your-face fall–don’t get me wrong, I like that, too, but a little simplicity goes a long way.

The charms and colors of this bracelet scream, “It’s Fall!,” to me. I like the little dangly bits because they have a mind of their own and fall where they want (no pun intended) and are just the right length to not get in the way. There is also some history mentioned with this one as well, so that’s also a plus for me! This one is definitely a piece to grab and add to your collection!

Chevrons are still in (at least I hope so–I just bought curtains with chevron print), so I really wanted to feature something with it. The colors of the leather speak the word ‘fall’ to me; you’ve got cream, brown, and a dark mustardy color–obviously fall, but also obviously 70s. I also really like the length of this necklace. It’s 34.4 inches long and has no clasp to fool around with (Can you tell I have issues with clasps?). The length also is good because it doesn’t it at that awkward spot right below your shirt’s neckline where you have to keep fishing it out from. If there are any guys reading this, the previous sentence is an actual problem females deal with when it comes to jewelry–jewelry is meant to be seen and not hidden behind the shirt, so don’t think we’re crazy when we keep changing clothes so we can wear a certain necklace.

This set of pumpkin earrings is just too freaking cute! I like how the “vine” continues to climb up the clasp of the earring and adds more dimension to what normally is a blank space (the leaf is also a nice touch). We all also know I’m a fan of anything matte, so obviously you know I’m really loving the matte nature of the pumpkins and leaves! This one is a must for fall! Also, if you don’t like these, she has more in her shop. 🙂

I know I’m ready for fall…especially for cooler temperatures, but not the allergies! Go look on you favorite handmade site for the perfect jewelry piece that says “Fall” to you and show your favorite makers some love!

Hello, Everyone! It’s that time again….time for Weekly Wednesday that is! I’m late again with posting but at least it’s not a week or more between. There just hasn’t been a lot of time with work (especially this past Tuesday…almost an 11 hour shift due to a call out). Maybe I should rename it to “Thrifty Thursdays.” We’ll see..lol

Ok…first let me say that I absolutely LOATHE (insert Jim Carrey’s The Grinch version) the art deco style–primarily the sharp, masculinity of the architecture–it’s just so…ick. I’m just not a fan. Now I will say I approve of it more when there are more rounded shapes used. The iron railings and stained glass are usually pieces I prefer to look at…just not the main architectural points. Anyway, this isn’t architecture…lol.

I love this bracelet–even if it is art deco. There are some sharp features to this piece, but there is enough feminine detail to outweigh the sharp. Another great perk with this piece is that the main detailed piece can be switched out with the other bangles in the artists’ shop. And, trust me, you really should check out some of the other items….awesome stuff.

There really isn’t a description on this item’s page, but I love all of the detail put into the piece. This maker is a silversmith and everything about this ring is hand done. All the shapes and textures..everything. I like the boho look, and I think this would be great for anyone who also loves the style and anyone you see as a free-spirit.

I saw this pendant and thought, “that’s so cool!” I haven’t seen a lot of honeycomb stuff, but I think it’s definitely something that could trend if people picked it up. This piece is cast from an original piece of honeycomb using the lost wax method (a mold is made using the real honeycomb; the mold is preserved and pieces are cast from it). This is just plain gorgeousness!

You already know I’m a fan of the stacked ring look, but I really love these in particular. I think it’s because of the mixed metal and the varying textures used. This set would be great to top off almost any outfit, or you could wear each separately, which is also another great thing about these sets. This one in particular is just pleasing to the eye and not overly detailed. Simplicity at its finest.

Oh, the detail! I love the detail in these earrings! In addition to the detail, you could wear one of these as a necklace–so dual purpose jewelry! The filigree and dot-work are inspired by northern India’s silversmiths, so there is a large amount of history with this set as well. They are brass, so the makers suggest a particular care process for them–don’t get them wet (this includes sweating) and don’t sleep in them. Also be gentle when handling them (as with any jewelry). Don’t like a “bull in a china shop.” You may have to google that since I sometimes use peculiar words and phrases that are used only in a particular area. (My boyfriend likes to tease me (lovingly) about some of the words I use–i.e. hose pipe, eat-a-snack–just look them up if you’re wondering what the hell I’m saying) 😉

I’m such a fan of twig/branch rings! They’re just so gorgeous, and the work is so intricate. The artist mentions a Tibetan wedding custom in the description, which is very interesting–I love it when the cultural/historical details are mentioned about a piece. According to the page, it is Tibetan tradition for the mother of the bride to wrap string around her daughter’s finger, and the number of times it wraps around indicates how many years the daughter will be graced with a happy marriage. Hopefully they had a long piece of string or tied more together 🙂

Now, as always, go to your favorite handmade site and show your favorite artists/makers some love!

Hello, Hello, Everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve gotten to blog about Etsy picks! I didn’t forget–in fact it’s been on my mind every time for the past 2 weeks that I’ve missed! Work has been crazy busy (and I’ve been passing out for naps when I get home), and I just got back from a short vacation in New Orleans. Please forgive my tardiness in posting 😛 Since it’s getting close to getting prepared for the holiday season at work (and for Starbucks managers and baristas, that’s a big deal!), I’m going to go ahead and say that I may miss some posts here and there, but I won’t forget about it. Enough of my rambling–since I’m just getting back from New Orleans, I thought it would be fitting for this post to be about one of the symbols of New Orleans–the Fleur de lis. Shall we?

I love this set of earrings….and they’re appropriate for work! Two pluses there! They are hand-stamped and then soldered by the artist, so there is an enormous amount of handiwork that has gone into these. Soldering takes a lot of patience….A LOT. You can wear these with anything–casual or dressy…another plus. And for allergy sufferers, they are sterling silver, so there are no worries about nickel reactions!

I really love the why this ring has the Fleur-de-lis with a cut out edge. Softness combined with roughness–a pleasing balance! This piece was cast in sterling silver and then antiqued by the artist. This is another item that requires patience. I really find this piece gorgeous and am absolutely in love with it!

Now, this is an interesting cuff! There was another one by this artist that I was going to feature, but this one and that je ne sais quoi I love. I’ll link the other one here so you can check it out–it’s gorgeous as well! The listing has a brief history of the bayou and swampy areas of New Orleans that is quite interesting, and the process for creating this piece is described. Lots of detail as well as patience is required for this piece, but I feel that is what makes handmade pieces so remarkable. Awesome work!

I saw this piece and thought it was really neat. The New Orleans skyline is hand carved into the metal. It’s different from what we normally think of when we think about New Orleans since I’m guessing the first image that pops into most people’s heads is the French Quarter or Vampires. Don’t get me wrong, I love that part of the city, but this is something different–to remind those of us not from the area (only, me–my boyfriend was born there) that there is more to the New Orleans area than just the French Quarter.

**Just a note here…for some reason this item and the shop have disappeared since I started this post 😦 I don’t know what happened, but I still wanted to showcase it.

Again, another cuff bracelet…can you tell I’m a fan? I really like that this is adjustable because it’s not always easy to hook a lobster clasp..haha. My preference is definitely the adjustable since I stink at hooking the other! The Fleur-de-lis is the crowning touch to the ends of this bracelet after the dainty metal-beading. Simple, simple, and then BAM.

This is seriously cute! If you’ve been to New Orleans, you know there are streetcars going to and fro. This charm has the name “Desire” stamped on it, and there is a tag stamped with “New Orleans” attached to the clasp. Definitely a must have for a frequent visitor or a native!

That’s all I have for now. Hopefully, I’ll be able to post (and on time) next week! Now hop on over to your favorite handmade site and show some artists some love!

Hello, everyone! Here we are for another Weekly Wednesday! I figured since I don’t talk a lot about myself on here that I would pull together some things that are totally me–products, cartoons, etc. I will warn you ahead of time that there are curse words in use in some of it, but that’s how I am and I’m not about to hide who I am from anyone. All of our eccentricities are what make us each unique individuals 🙂

Cat lady here! This is a great way to say it, too. We’re usually at our computers, so anyone who sees this should positively know you’re a cat lover. I love dogs, too, but I was raised with cats. This mouse pad is made from wool, which is eco-friendly, but the maker says it may not do well with sensitive gaming mice…like that’s going to stop me from loving it–I don’t play games that are sensitive to movement.–can’t do it or I’ll puke. And probably the BEST thing about this is that 10% of the proceeds go to no-kill shelters! Save the kitties and doggies!

Yes, I work at a Starbucks, but I’m usually pretty much dead. This is perfect for those of us who are like the walking dead at work….especially when you clopen (a close shift followed by an open shift). Some days it’s all I can do to function much less put my happy face on for guests. Maybe this would get me started. This mug is hand-painted and fired and fits most cup holders. (Side note: I refuse to buy a car that does not have a cup holder…yes, I know it’s a stupid thing to be a deal breaker on a car, but I really don’t want to try driving and holding a cup between my legs (especially, when people drive like maniacs where I live.) Another huge plus here is that it’s dishwasher and microwave safe–what more could you want?

What have we, here…..Another cat item? Yes, if the first item wasn’t enough to tell you I’m a fan of cats, here is another one. Usually, me and house plants don’t mix…side note: I’ve killed a cactus (that’s pretty bad), but I may have had some help from my dad who flooded its container with water one day. It’s starting to become more clear that my dad played a bigger role in that than previously thought because I’ve had success in growing vegetables. I love this planter because–obviously–it’s a cat and because it’s not something you’re going to see every single day like the plain terra-cotta pots. It’s important to me to have things that not everyone else is going to have because I don’t want to be a cookie cutter of someone else. This pot is made completely by hand starting with the white clay bisque. it’s just so freaking CUTE!! I want it!

First, let me say…this item sold by the time I got to post this, but I absolutely had to include it anyway because it was so me. I hope the maker produces more of these—they’re just too awesome and sooooo descriptive of life in general. I swear I laugh every time I see it. Awesome design job!

Can I say that I’m absolutely one of those people who gets home and the pants come off? After spending all day constricted in khaki pants, I just want to GET THEM OFF when I get home, and you can bet that I refuse to where anything restricting after that. It’s me and my pjs or yoga pants/shorts. Screw anything else! I love this print, and it was the first time I’d actually seen anything like it. Guess there are more no pants people, huh? Great job for having this print!

Any fans from Sherlock? If so, you’ll definitely know where this is from! I need one of these for when I’m in my thinking mode…I’ve got to get my creative ideas down somewhere where I know I’ll find them. I’ve been having a creative block for the past few weeks, so I’ve not been making a lot of stuff, but I’ve had ideas come and go because I didn’t have a place to write them down—or I guess I should say a place I’d know where I’d written them down. I like this notebook also because it’s embroidered, so I know it’s a great quality item…perfect for Sherlock fans!

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s edition and enjoyed getting a little more insight into who I am. Quirky is probably the best term, but I don’t really know..haha. Anyway, head on over to your favorite handmade site and show your favorite makers some love!

Hello, Everyone! It’s time for another edition of Weekly Wednesday! No theme today…just some fabulous picks from browsing the jewelry on Etsy! Not a lot going on in my personal world…just work, work, and more work.

I’m really liking multiple bracelet stacks these days, and this maker has quite a few of them and all are equally gorgeous. It was difficult for me to narrow it down to one, but this one kept catching my eye. I like how the colors are primarily neutral with a few that aren’t. This particular set is composed of 9 bracelets (two of which are stretchy and the rest are bangles) made from semi-precious stones, upcycled fibers, and mixed metals. You all know that I really like upcycled items, so that makes me like it even more! Attached to one of the bangles is an antique bronze tree of life charm. It looks to be a fairly good-sized charm with intricate details and is a great addition to the primarily neutral, earthy tones within the bracelets. Definitely a must have if you like stacked bracelets!

These makers primarily make items other than jewelry, but they still have several unique pieces! This ring was hand turned out of wood and topped with a colored resin. Simple and gorgeous at the same time. I’m really liking how the geometric shaped were combined–you’ve got circle and a rectangle, which lend themselves to sharp and smooth edges. BAM! I love it.

Take a look at these beauties! I like that they’re multi-layered in a way that wouldn’t tangle too terribly in long hair–always a plus because who else hates brushing out those huge knots and losing a chunk of hair? They’re so delicate, and the color combination is awesome! These are made using niobium wire, which is hypoallergenic (another plus). She has a lot of other neat jewelry in her shop you should check out. In addition to Etsy, more of her work can be found here on Instagram. I’ve been following for a while, and she always has new stuff to showcase!

First, let me say that this particular listing is for ONE of these tassel necklaces. Having said that, I think that this is a competitor for a new fashion trend–layered tassel necklaces. Maybe I’m crazy, but I think combining necklaces like these is very stylish and would add an interesting aspect to any outfit. I’m really liking that the beads are only on the lower part of the necklace letting the chain provide a delicate nature to the piece. I never really would’ve thought to have used the color combinations the maker picked, but they definitely work!

When I first saw this necklace, I thought it was woven together with a very thin gold thread, but as I looked closer, I realized that it was actually crocheted! How neat to combine two totally separate art forms–jewelry making and crochet. I love how the stringing material she chose directly complements the beads and stones within the piece. I’m also liking how the textures have been combined—you’ve got soft rounder beads with chunkier beads, and the crocheted stringing material adds in another texture!. This maker has a lot of gorgeous pieces, and is definitely one to watch!

Comment, like, share, and link, and, most importantly–Make sure you go show your favorite makers some love and tune in next week for a new edition of Weekly Wednesday!

Hello, everyone! Since it’s that time of year again when colleges are getting ready to be back in session, I decided that this edition of Weekly Wednesday would be the prime opportunity to showcase items that every young adult needs when they head out for the college world. Of course, these things are still great for those of us…including, ahem, myself…who are nearing the 30s. My birthday was Monday, and I hit the big 28..so yeah…30s…yeah.. Anyway, let’s get to it shall we?

Yes, I know this is an old-timey alarm clock, and I know most people use their phones or a more modern version of the alarm clock, BUT there is a really good reason for my featuring this other than the fact that I think it’s awesome. Have you ever had the power go off–which knocks your alarm clock out (or the battery back up fails) and stops your phone charging? Or maybe you only have a phone alarm–have you had that conveniently not charge and miss your alarm? This girl here has, and let me tell you, it’s not at all pleasant. PANIC MODE!! I suggest that you have one of these just in case you have a situation like mine happen and also if waking you is like waking the dead (like me).

Who all has a crap load of gift cards or loyalty cards? *raises hand* I know it’s not just me, and I know it’s not just me that has problems keeping up with all of them. This card holder will help solve that problem. We all know college students get discounts, so what better than to have somewhere to keep them all! The cards are stored within credit card holders that fan out from one corner and are held in place as a convenient little rectangle by an elastic band. More organization is always good…and who doesn’t need it?

College students are going to travel home or go somewhere on the weekends sometimes, so they’ll need a nice, sturdy bag to pack their stuff in. At this age, you need something that is going to hold up instead of something you’ll end up constantly replacing (ahem, like my backpacks in college until I actually invested in a better made one). This weekend bag isn’t cheap, but it IS a good quality bag. It’s made from a heavy-duty canvas that has had a water-resistant treatment applied, leather straps that wrap around the whole bag for added support, exterior zip pockets, and a waterproof liner. It has everything you’d want in a durable bag, so I think this one would make a very good investment for the college student or adults in general.

Anyone else ever kill a cactus? No? Just me? (Well, I think I had some help from my dad–it was fine until he decided it needed his version of WATERING–oh well, we’ll never know haha) I think that having a real, live plant in the living space adds a sense of balance to that particular area. Now, don’t go turn your space into a jungle–I’m talking maybe a couple of small plants, like a cactus. I see it as something that might help teach responsibility to the college student–no one wants a dead plant sitting around. This neat little planter is pretty cute and would add a little somethin somethin to your space.

No one likes 8 am classes (or getting up early), so what better to have a travel mug to motivate you to “get shit done?” We have to have somewhere to store the caffeine. This maker has a variety of different items, so if glitter isn’t your thing, there are other options to choose from. I really like the look of the texture of this one even though I’m not a die-hard glitter fan. Sometimes it’s not just the caffeine that gets you going…it’s the saying…and I LOVE this one!

A lot of people probably like to use electronic planning tools, but I really like to have a hard-copy, in-hand planner. I’ve never been one to lean toward the electronic side of things when it comes to paper products–I prefer the real book to a digital one, a real planner to a digital one, etc. I guess I just like being able to see and touch–haha. As one goes into college, there are a lot more things to keep up with including, homework, due dates, get-togethers, etc. How would you keep it all straight? A good ole planner that’s how! Not only are they useful for college students, but they are also useful to pretty much anyone. Take me for instance–I have to place orders, make schedules, give people days off, etc. I do have issues checking it though…darn it! This maker allows you to put a custom quote on this particular planner, but I really like the one that’s shown on there…cracks me up! Included within are the following: 2 schedule timetables, weekly pages, to-do checklists, monthly calendar pages, note pages, and a double-sided pocket in the back. It’s also made from recycled paper and fiberboard.

If you haven’t started searching for back-to-school or back-to-college (or maybe just life in general) I suggest you get to it. This list is just a start of things most people need for this time of the year or in any point in life. Handmade doesn’t have to include just crafty stuff as you’ve seen here–it covers multiple realms! Get out there, get your supplies, and get to showing your favorite artists and makers some love!

Hello, Everyone! Welcome back for another Weekly Wednesday! This week, I decided to go with a Mala theme (seen a lot in boho styles and in Buddhist culture). All of the shops whose items I’ve featured today have lots of gorgeous items, so I had to narrow it down to one item per shop–you may want to go take a look at all the beautiful items they have! Also, I have an UPDATE on my weekly recipes–yes, I’ve been bad and not posted one recently, but I do have one ready if I can ever get around to writing about it (and it is DELISH)! Making beverages all day doesn’t really motivate me to make something else when I get home (nor does it motivate me to wash dishes). I’m still going to be doing them, just not at a weekly pace…more of a ‘when I can get time to do it’ pace!

Malas have been growing in popularity in recent months because of their appearance in fashion and use in yoga, but I want to give you a little bit of background behind them in case you aren’t familiar with the origin. Malas are traditionally used as prayer beads in the form of meditation. There are usually composed of 108 beads in addition to a guru bead to help the user keep count of how many times they have repeated a mantra. Malas are also made in counts of 18, 27, and 54, but they all go into that initial 108 an even number of times. Sometimes they are composed of specific beads for particular purposes (one type of bead is used for one mantra and another for a different mantra). I won’t go any further into their origin than this but I will leave a link here in case you are interested in learning further about them 🙂

Now, let’s jump into today’s finds!

P.S. These can all be used as either necklaces or bracelets as most of them use the traditional 108 beads! Versatility is always awesome and always a plus!

The first thing that caught my eye with this piece is how it’s not like your normal mala. The second was the variety of textures inherent in the beads that were used–carved bone beads from Nepal and Tibet, vintage crow beads, bone and vintage glass beads, and a conch shell from Nepal. So much culture and simplicity in one piece! Gorgeous piece! For more information on the symbolic nature, head over to the listing.

I really like the contrast with the pink and green here! The colors balance each other–the softness of the pink and the harshness of the green. The guru bead in this piece is a bodhi seed (red stars and moon type–description here and here ). I also really like the knots between each individual bead because it adds more detail and makes it all the more handmade. Like I said in the beginning, I had to just use one piece from each shop, but there were several others that I loved from this maker!

I saw this on and went, “this is f*%king gorgeous!” I’m absolutely in love with the color palette the artist chose. This mala is composed of blue sky jasper, white jade, amber-colored bone with inlaid turquoise, yellow jasper, and metal beads. Such a variety! The symbols in the metal piece stand for ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ which is the mantra spoken by Buddhist followers. Even with all of the details and colors going on, there is something soothing about this particular piece. Maybe it’s the balance created by all of it; maybe it’s the placement of the beads; maybe it’s just me 🙂

I love the contrast between the pink and the blue used here in this piece. The use of the two colors in the one tassel is just striking. Most of the time I see malas with tassels of only one color, so this one takes the cake for best tassel! The artist has also used silver beads intermittently. Supposedly the pink agate enhances creativity and strengthens intellect in addition to being a good luck and harmony stone.

Gorgeous prehnite beads are used in this lovely mala! The detail in the beads themselves is exquisite–each one is different. There are also a few czech picasso beads used as the drop for the tassel (which bring out its color) as well as a handmade “be” charm within this piece. The artist mentions that the charm is remind the wearer to live in the moment and “Be true, Be authentic.” I feel that they put the meaning of that charm in the best words possible because we all need to be aware of the moment as well as be true and be authentic—how can we really know others without first knowing ourselves by doing just that..being true and authentic?

For the final item for this edition, I decided to change it up and feature a mala bracelet instead of a necklace. I’ve got to have a few surprises every now and then, don’t I? Gotta keep you guessing! As with all of the other items, this can be worn as a necklace or as a bracelet. Each of the 215 beads used to make this bracelet are made of sandalwood and are strung on a durable stretchy jewelry cord–in my opinion, this is a plus because it allows the piece to stretch if you’re wrapping it around your wrist for a bracelet (especially if you have to wrap it more than most people–like me; I’ve got smaller wrists, so I need that stretch to be able to twist in another layer or two). The colors chosen are really fitting for this piece as they are mainly earthy tones–the green and red give it a little bit of a pop as does the larger bead placed right at the guru bead (the bead the two strings come from). There is also another piece (I can’t really tell what it is) right below the guru bead that lends a little metallic glitz.

As always, go to your favorite handmade site and show your favorite artisans some love! Tune in next week for another Weekly Wednesday!